No public inquiry into Lafarge plans

08 June 2004

The Government has rejected calls for a public inquiry into Lafarge Cement’s plan to burn re-cycled liquid fuel in Westbury. The decision comes despite residents’ fears that the application for a six-month trial period does not properly address potential health problems.

The Environment Agency is due to announce its verdict on the proposal by the end of this month and campaigners fear it may give it the green light.

Wiltshire’s Liberal Democrat group wrote to environment minister Elliot Morley in January to demand the public has a greater say before the decision is taken. But Mr Morley has turned down the request, arguing the vetting process has enough safeguards and should remain in place. He said: "The application is subject to the consultation procedures of the Environment Agency’s Substitute Fuels Protocol and will involve the local Primary Care Trust which is a statutory consultee under the regulations. "It would not be normal to have a public inquiry in these circumstances."